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Security

Computer security and the lack of computer security is a fundamental issue that underpins much of how the Internet does (and doesn't) function. Many of the policy issues that EFF works on are linked to security in deep ways including privacy and anonymity, DRM, censorship, and network neutrality.

EFF works directly on a wide range of security issues including increased deployment of cryptographic protocols through projects like HTTPS Everywhere and Certbot; improving the security of those protocols with the SSL Observatory; offering legal assistance to researchers through our Coders' Rights Project; offering practical security advice to activists through the surveillance self-defense project; directly auditing open source codebases; and working on the development of new security standards.

Security Highlights

The web is in the middle of a massive change from non-secure HTTP to the more secure HTTPS protocol. All web servers use one of these two protocols to get web pages from the server to your browser. HTTP has serious problems that make it vulnerable to eavesdropping and content...

EFF's Coders' Rights Project protects programmers and developers engaged in cutting-edge exploration of technology. Security and encryption researchers help build a safer future for all of us using digital technologies, but too many legitimate researchers face serious legal challenges that prevent or inhibit their work. These challenges come from laws...

Security Updates

July 15 Hearing Set in Florida Orlando, FL - On Thursday, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Florida attorney Jeff Liggio filed an emergency amicus brief on behalf of Volusia County disabled residents who oppose the purchase of paperless touchscreen voting machines. The brief, supporting Volusia County Council members...

Good news: New Jersey's acting governor recently signed into law legislation that will require all voting machines to produce a voter-verified paper record by 2008. But New Jersey citizens shouldn't have to wait until then to be sure their votes count. Last week, EFF and a broad coalition of...

EFF and Coalition Back E-voting Challenge Trenton, NJ - In the shadow of a lawsuit demanding that New Jersey update state laws to reflect its increasing use of electronic voting machines, New Jersey's acting governor recently signed into law legislation that will require all voting machines to produce a voter-verified...

As HR 550 Lobby Days wrap up, a final report from the field. Andrew Silver and Lee Baker, activists from North Carolina, enjoyed a generally receptive response from their home-state contingent. Senator Richard Burr and Representatives Brad Miller and Walter Jones all showed enthusiasm for the objective...

Claire Miller, an Oregon teacher who is participating in the HR 550 lobby effort, canvassed the Oregon House delegation and reports an 80% favorable response. Representatives David Wu, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, and Darlene Hooley all indicated support for the bill and for the need for...